Page 134 of Just for Tonight

“It couldn’t tow a trailer, and I needed to tow a trailer.” His gaze meets mine, his eyes dancing wickedly.

“Why?”

“To move my sailboat, of course.” He says this at me as if it’s self-evident, and thumbs the button on the key fob. The lights flash on the blue pick-up truck right beside us and I hear the doors unlock.

“Nice. And it matches your eyes,” I say and Jake laughs. He opens the passenger door for me and I get in.

He starts the engine and backs out of the drive. I’m checking the back seat, thinking it might be possible for us to get together there. The windows are tinted, which is a bonus.

“So, you bought a boat.”

“I bought a sailboat. The reason I wanted to abduct you today was to take you sailing. Pretty much getting to the end of the season, but we can manage one sail at least. The harbour master says Isobelle should come out of the water by Monday.”

“Isobelle?”

He grins. “Every boat needs a name, and they’re all female. Don’t you like it?”

“I love it.” I do. “That’s why you’re tanned.”

“Yes. It’s also why I’m happier.”

“You’re living on your boat?”

“No. I’m living in my cottage in Port Cavendish, the one I didn’t want to have, the one that had to be completely gutted by McTavish & Daughters and still is a woefully inadequate place to make it up to you for taking so long to get the mountain where it needed to be.”

“I’ll take my chances.”

Jake grins with satisfaction at that. “I was hoping you might.”

41

Jake

The renovation isn’t done, of course, but the place looks a lot better than it did when I closed on it. I watch Mackenzie’s reaction as we pull into the gravel drive. There are trees along the road that give the house some privacy, so it always feels like a surprise to turn the bend in the drive and see the house with the lake behind it. There’s only a carport at this point, though I have plans to change that. I park in front of the cottage, then go to open her door.

She walks around the house to the back and just stares at the lake. “Now that’s a view.”

“My thinking exactly.” I’m never going to stop loving it.

Mackenzie nods. “I’ve noticed this house before. I always thought it was sad that it was empty.”

“Empty no longer.”

“So, this is your home away from home?”

“No. It’s home. Period.”

She looks at me, surprised.

“I still have a small condo in the city, but the one you saw is sold.”

Her expression changes, just a little, and there’s a new light in her eyes. She speaks with determination, though. “I think you need to tell me about this iceberg,” she says, holding my gaze.

I’m more than ready to do that. I take her hand and lead her toward the lake, strolling across the flat run of land that leads to the edge of the cliff. I can see not just the lake but the harbor below and to the right, with the lovely Isobelle in her slip.

“Start at the beginning,” she says. “After the presentation to your family on Labour Day.” She squeezes my fingers. “You were great, by the way.”

“You were on the call?”